From the blog of former superstar RVA intern and hated Suns fan, Neil Lopez. Check it HERE.
This semester the VCU School of MASC has undergone a renovation process of sorts on the Temple building. By now, you will have noticed that all those stained-white squared walls have started to change into colorful murals.
Here is a bit from the Mass Comm website.
The School of Mass Communications has initiated an internal facelift as part of a larger branding effort featuring accomplished artists from Virginia and New York. Headed by renowned local artist Ed Trask, the Temple Building which houses the School will have many of its walls transformed from blank, beige space to vibrant colors and images designed to inspire creativity, discussion and a richer experience…
Whether the new art work does what it’s designed to do, is ultimately up to the students who walk those halls each and every day. It’s still up in the air. I’ve noticed that some reactions have been negative but mostly because some students feel we could utilize funds in more directly helpful ways. (printers, video equipment, longer lab hours, etc.) But it’s important to note that this “internal facelift” has been funded largely by faculty, alumni, and corporate support. So, very little out of the school budget if at all.
Personally, I’m down. And in general, the response seems to be positive. It’s better than nothing and certainly better than beige. There has been a lotta praise particularly for the stairwell piece done by Nick Kuszyk. I’d say that’s the most frequented piece done so far, partially because it’s the fucking first floor stairwell, but also just because it can’t not catch your eye. The colors, the scale of the work. Plus, it’s robots! Or should I say RRobots with two R’s.
From the blog of former superstar RVA intern and hated Suns fan, Neil Lopez. Check it HERE.
This semester the VCU School of MASC has undergone a renovation process of sorts on the Temple building. By now, you will have noticed that all those stained-white squared walls have started to change into colorful murals.
Here is a bit from the Mass Comm website.
The School of Mass Communications has initiated an internal facelift as part of a larger branding effort featuring accomplished artists from Virginia and New York. Headed by renowned local artist Ed Trask, the Temple Building which houses the School will have many of its walls transformed from blank, beige space to vibrant colors and images designed to inspire creativity, discussion and a richer experience…
Whether the new art work does what it’s designed to do, is ultimately up to the students who walk those halls each and every day. It’s still up in the air. I’ve noticed that some reactions have been negative but mostly because some students feel we could utilize funds in more directly helpful ways. (printers, video equipment, longer lab hours, etc.) But it’s important to note that this “internal facelift” has been funded largely by faculty, alumni, and corporate support. So, very little out of the school budget if at all.
Personally, I’m down. And in general, the response seems to be positive. It’s better than nothing and certainly better than beige. There has been a lotta praise particularly for the stairwell piece done by Nick Kuszyk. I’d say that’s the most frequented piece done so far, partially because it’s the fucking first floor stairwell, but also just because it can’t not catch your eye. The colors, the scale of the work. Plus, it’s robots! Or should I say RRobots with two R’s.
Known as “the robot guy”, R. Nicholas Kuszyk is making great head way in the art game. He has had a number of shows in New York and Richmond and other areas of the country. At first glance, his work is wonderfully colorful, fun, and eye-catching. But under the surface you’ll see intricate detail, complexity, and meaningful social themes in his work.
I was fortunate to pick his brain about the piece in Temple, his thoughts on Richmond, advice for young artists, and more. Enjoy.
TIFYM: First off, whats the R stand for and how do you pronounce that last name?
R. Nicholas Kuszyk: The R is a secret. Kuszyk is pronounced Koozik, kuzinski, kuzyak, kowzskee etc.
TIFYM: Where are you from and where do you call home?
RNK: I’m from Virginia: Mclean, Richmond, Charlottesville and Harrisonburg. I live in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
TIFYM: What’s your connection to VCU and/or Richmond?
RNK: Lived in Richmond on and off for 8 years. Graduated from VCU with two majors. Sculpture extended media, and Painting and Printmaking in 2002… or maybe 2003.
TIFYM: How did the whole Temple building project come about for you and was there a particular story or plan for the stairwell piece?
RNK: Ed Trask texted me, “Hey you wanna paint?”
TIFYM: How’s it feel to have your work on a VCU building?
RNK: Pretty good. Painting is fun.
TIFYM: What do you think the renovation of new artwork says about the Temple building and the Mass Comm program?
RNK: Hopefully good things. There must be cool people making cool decisions in there somewhere.
TIFYM: Talk a bit about your educational background in art/design and how you came to do what you do.
RNK: I was born cessarian section? Always wanted to draw.
TIFYM: Describe your style. Why robots?
RNK: Cartoon robots… cartoon robots. Ten years worth of reasons. The motivations have evolved a bunch over the years.
TIFYM: What materials and mediums to you typically use in your work?
RNK: Acrylic, micron pens, love, magic, etc.
TIFYM: I saw on your website that you’ve done a “Book for Kids” in which your both illustrator and author. What made you want to take on something like that and can we expect more things like that n the future?
RNK: Penguin hollered at me. It’s called R Robot Saves Lunch. Yes. Plans.
TIFYM: What made you choose to move to Brooklyn and what’s it like over there? What do you have to say to people who call it “hipster central”?
RNK: Brooklyn feels like the center of the universe for me. It’s great. There are more inspiring people per square foot than anywhere I’ve ever been. Yes, Williamsburg is “hipster central.” But I like it. If we’re making generalizations I’d rather be surrounded by “hipsters” rather than “squares” … as long as they’re not completely devout.
TIFYM: What things do you miss most about Richmond?
RNK: Friends, the river, cheap rent. I come back often enough to get my fix.
TIFYM: I’m sure you got plenty…please share a funny Richmond story.
RNK: Maybe in 1997 or so I got chased by the police all through the bottom and downtown while wearing short shorts, flip flops and an indian headdress… and I got away.
TIFYM: How do you feel about Richmond’s reputation as a city that has long been overshadowed by it’s potential?
RNK: That’s kind of a weird thought… people overshadow themselves. Cities just sit there. Deep thoughts.
TIFYM: Do you think Richmond is a good place for an artist to live and work at?
RNK: Yeah, anywhere is if you have a a little discipline and adequate space set up. I think it’s pretty hard to make a decent living as an “artist” anywhere, but Richmond is cheap and there’s a good mellow pace to stay focused in. I guess it’s hard to make a living selling work there unless you get in with the money people, but that’s every where unless you sell your work for more affordable prices. But even then art isn’t something most people think to buy. I used to sell my stuff on the street or at parties and get bummed that people would pass up on a ten dollar painting and go buy a thirty dollar meal. But I know that buying art is a strange commitment and not to take it personal. Having a piece in your house, whatever, a poster, a lamp, a painting, is an intimate kind of relationship. It’s in your house. Sometimes if my friends give me a hard time about some shit and I know they have a piece of mine in their house I just say “Hey it’s cool, you think about me every day.” My one friend gets all pissed when I call him out like that, ha. I also learned that there’s no way to really predict what type of person is going to buy what type of art and for what reasons when the art is inexpensive/affordable. It’s really random who buys what. But as far as harnessing creativity and generating a social network around art, in Richmond or anywhere there’s people with artsy intentions. All you have to do is have a party and invite all your friends to bring something they made to sell for super cheap, like five bucks or free or whatever and just have an art party get together. It’s rad. So much bad stuff and good stuff on the walls to make fun of and enjoy and buy if you want to. It’s encouraging. You don’t absolutely need a gallery to show art. And having something you’re friend made is way better than having a Bob Marley weed poster or something impersonal and generic on your wall. Black light posters are pretty tight though. I wanna make one.
TIFYM: Do you have any advice for young Richmond artists to stand out from one another?
RNK: Work as hard as you can without making yourself sick. Try to sound like you know what you’re talking about. Try not to copy you’re influences too blatantly.
TIFYM: You got any upcoming projects or shows you can talk about?
RNK: I’m in a small show in DUMBO with el Kamino and CHIP7 and Pars in the end of May. Otherwise I’ve been taking the past few months off to study how to manipulate circuits to make noise and effects pedals for sound installations…
TIFYM: Thanks man.
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If you’re around BK at the end of the month, make sure to check out the show. Anyone interested in buying Nick’s book, R Robot Saves Lunch, it can be purchased online and at Chop Suey Books. Also, be sure to visit Nick’s website at www.rrobots.com to see more of his work. Even if you’re not a Mass Comm major, please come by the Temple building to check out the piece in person. Thanks to Adam Wayland for the photos and thanks to Nick Kuszyk for his time and words.
